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Must C: Confrontation 4:41

4/11/13: Zack Greinke hits Carlos Quentin with a pitch in the sixth inning that leads to several player ejections, including Matt Kemp

By Barry M. Bloom
/
MLB.com |

SAN DIEGO -- The Dodgers have lost right-hander Zack Greinke indefinitely with a broken collarbone as a result of a fight in the sixth inning of Thursday night's 3-2 victory over the Padres at Petco Park.

Greinke hit Padres left fielder Carlos Quentin with a pitch and said he sustained the injury when Quentin body slammed him in the left shoulder as he charged the mound.

Stan Conte, vice president of medical services for the Dodgers, said he won't know the duration of Greinke's absence until after he is examined by team orthopedic physicians on Friday in Los Angeles. But one thing is certain: Dodgers manager Don Mattingly wants equal retribution.

"He should not play a game until Greinke can pitch," Mattingly said about Quentin. "If he plays before Greinke pitches, something is wrong. Their guys charges the mound being an idiot and our guy is going to be out for however long and their guy is probably going to be playing in three days. It's a joke."

Greinke, who made his second start after signing a six-year, $147 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, left the clubhouse with his left arm in a sling. Plate umpire and crew chief Sam Holbrook will send a written report to Major League Baseball. Joe Garagiola Jr., MLB's vice president of baseball operations, will view the videotape and determine suspensions under the rule restrictions governed by the Basic Agreement.

Greinke, Quentin, Matt Kemp and Jerry Hairston Jr. were all ejected from the game, Holbrook said.

"Really, that's all I can tell you," Holbrook said afterward in a written statement. "I spoke with my supervisor and until we file a report with the league that's really all we can say."

There have been two previous incidents between the two players. In April 2009, when Greinke pitched for the Royals and Quentin was with the White Sox, Greinke hit Quentin in the back. Quentin had to be kept from charging the mound at the time, but ill feelings apparently still linger.

"It's an unfortunate situation," said Quentin, who was also hit in the wrist by Dodgers reliever Ronald Belisario during Tuesday's home opener for the Padres. "Myself and Greinke have a history. It dates back a few years. You guys can look it up. It's documented. It could have been avoided. You can ask Zack about that. For me, I've been hit by many pitches in my career. I think you guys know that. I can tell you I've never responded in that fashion, so you guys can do your homework on that. For me, the situation is done. That's it."

For his part, though, Greinke denied that he's ever intentionally tried to hit Quentin. Regarding Thursday night's situation, Quentin led off the sixth with the Dodgers leading, 2-1, and the count full when Greinke hit him in the left shoulder. Quentin started toward the mound, and when Greinke said something he ran full bore into him as the benches and bullpens cleared. In the melee, Quentin dumped Greinke to the ground, pulling off his jersey hockey style.

"The only thing I'm going to say about the whole thing that happened there is I've never hit him on purpose," Greinke said. "I never thought of hitting him on purpose. He always seems to think that I'm hitting him on purpose, but, I mean, that's not the case. I actually thought it was just a ploy to get people to not throw inside to him. I just feel like he's trying to intimidate people to throw away. But I don't know anyone who has hit him on purpose. I know I haven't. Like I said, I hadn't even thought about hitting him on purpose before."

Mattingly wasn't having any of it. Not the history and certainly not the results of the skirmish. With the Dodgers at 6-3 heading into a three-game weekend series against the D-backs at Chase Field beginning on Friday night, he's going to have to revamp his starting rotation. Ted Lilly could be next up off the disabled list. He's currently rehabbing from labrum surgery on his left shoulder.

"What happened? I don't quite understand it, either," Mattingly said. "Were in a 2-1 game and we're trying to hit him on a 3-2 pitch to a guy that I see on the board set a record for the Padres by getting hit, a guy who basically dives into the plate? In a 2-1 game we're trying to hit him 3-2? It's just stupid is what it is.

"He caused the whole thing. Nothing happens if he goes to first base because in baseball that's what you're supposed to do. We weren't throwing at him in that situation. That's zero understanding of the game of baseball. He shouldn't play a game until Greinke can pitch. Not one person on their team thinks he was throwing at him. We're trying to win a game. You don't hit a guy there. It's stupid. Just ridiculous."